Children's Dentistry

Infant Oral Exams | Children's Cleaning & Exams | Pediatric X-Rays | Fluoride | Restorative Dentistry

Dental Anxiety | Special Needs | Sports Mouthguards | Tooth-Colored Fillings | Tooth Extractions

Benefits Of Children's Dentistry:

Our team is trained to treat patients of all ages, so you can rest assured that your family is in the hands of an expert
Get all of your dental health needs taken care of under one roof
Continuance of care allows you to develop a personal relationship with your dentist throughout the years
General and preventive services help you and your family maintain healthy smiles

When you step into Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, you'll know you've found the perfect place for your family's care.

Our team loves helping kids grow into healthy adults. Dr. Grace Bauer will create a positive dental experience for your children because we understand that early dental encounters can influence a child’s impression of dentistry for a lifetime. You can be sure your child will have a great experience at Grace Dental.

The services offered at Grace Dental ensure that patients of all ages feel welcome. From the earliest check-ups to orthodontic evaluations, Dr. Grace Bauer will listen to your concerns and guide you through every stage.

Infant Oral Exams

A Good Start

Following the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we suggest infants should come in for their first oral exam between the ages of six months to 1 year old.

Dr. Grace Bauer will review proper diet, age-appropriate hygiene, and go over pacifier use to make sure your child’s oral health starts strong and stays strong. Additionally, Dr. Grace Bauer will monitor your child's development and ensure there are no oral concerns.

At Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, we believe that dental care is important at every stage of life. Set your child up for a lifetime worth of healthy smiles.

Children's Cleaning & Exams

More Than Just Baby Teeth

Preventative care is one of the simplest and most important ways to make sure your child’s teeth grow in strong and healthy. Giving them the proper tools and teaching them the right way to brush when they are young lays the groundwork that will create healthy habits they will carry with them into adulthood.

Most children have two cleanings a year, but children with a higher risk of caries may need more frequent visits.

During a checkup, your child’s hygienist will clean their teeth and, if necessary, take x-rays and give your child a fluoride treatment. Dr. Grace Bauer will perform an exam and review if any treatment is needed.

At Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, we believe that early dental encounters can influence a child’s impression of dentistry for a lifetime. We will ensure your child's preventive visits are a comfortable, positive experience.

Pediatric X-rays

Getting a Better Picture

Digital x-rays help diagnose cavities while they are tiny, often allowing for less invasive treatment. If they are caught early enough, decay may be stopped with some minor changes to your child’s home care routine.

Using digital x-rays, Dr. Grace Bauer can look for teeth that haven’t erupted yet, make sure your child’s jaws and teeth are developing well, and monitor whether orthodontic treatment will be needed in the future.

At Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, we want your child to be completely safe during their appointments. Today’s digital x-rays expose your child to less radiation than ever before. Lead aprons and taking x-rays only when necessary further reduce your child’s exposure.

Fluoride

Great Protection

Topical fluoride treatments help keep your child’s teeth cavity-free between visits by strengthening the enamel. Depending on your child’s age, the fluoride may be brushed onto your child’s teeth or put into a foam tray and allowed to sit on their teeth. For younger children, a fluoride varnish is brushed onto the teeth. Fluoride varnish hardens when it comes in contact with saliva, forming a hard film that is brushed off later that evening.

Older children usually have a tray loaded with foam fluoride placed in their mouths for a specific amount of time along with a suction straw to remove any foam overflow and saliva. When the time is up, your child is told not to eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to allow the fluoride to work.

At Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, our team is happy to answer all your questions about fluoride treatments and treatment options.

Restorative Dentistry

For Healthy, Fully Functioning Smiles

If your child needs restorative treatment in the form of a filling or crown, Dr. Grace Bauer will create a custom treatment plan for your child and review all options with you before treatment begins. At Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, we believe a conservative approach to children’s dentistry is usually the best course of action.

Fillings are placed in the tooth following decay removal to preserve natural tooth structure. Nowadays most fillings are made of a composite resin that is matched to your child’s natural tooth color. In some rare instances amalgam (silver) fillings may be used.

Crowns can be made of many different materials depending on where in your child’s mouth they are to be used. Stainless steel, resin, and zirconia are all durable choices and require very similar preparations.

Why Does My Child Need a Crown?

Sometimes an area of decay is too large for a filling or the decay has compromised the whole side of a tooth, so there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling. If your child has an accident that results in a heavily damaged tooth or if your child is at high risk for developing cavities, Dr. Grace Bauer may decide it’s best to preserve the entire remaining structure.

If you are concerned that your child needs a crown, Dr. Grace Bauer would be happy to answer all your questions and concerns.

Special Care for Dental Anxiety

A More Comfortable Visit

Sometimes a child comes to us that has had a negative dental experience or they are too young to understand the dental treatment needed. We offer different sedation options to help them relax and make their dental appointment more comfortable for everyone, patient and parent alike.

For most patients, laughing gas is very safe and plenty to help your child relax. It is mixed with oxygen and delivered with a small mask worn over your child’s nose. Your child is awake, responsive, and breathes without assistance. When treatment is finished, the mask is removed, and within a few breaths of air, the laughing gas has left your child’s system.

If your child is older or suffers from severe anxiety, oral sedation (a pill or liquid medicine), IV sedation, or general anesthesia in a hospital setting under the care of a board-certified anesthesiologist may be recommended.

At Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, we strive to create a positive dental experience for all our patients. Dr. Grace Bauer will be able to discuss these options with you to help your child receive the care they need.

Children with Special Needs

Gentle, Respectful Treatment for Everyone

When caring for children with special needs, our overall approach to dentistry doesn't change, but the treatment plan may be slightly different to accommodate any issues you may be facing at home; e.g., brushing, flossing, dietary concerns and addressing aversions to food textures and tastes, etc. We are always empathetic to the needs of the caregiver as well as the child and show support in any way we can.

Our empathy and advanced training allows us to read a child’s body language to help them even when your child can’t express those feelings themselves. The team at Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida has been trained to help every child remain as calm as possible throughout their visit.

Our office’s treatment rooms are designed to accommodate children with special needs so we can administer care in an environment that's accessible and comfortable for your child.

By visiting Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, you can rest assured that your child will be in the care of someone who can understand them and give them the gentle, respectful treatment they deserve.

Sports Mouthguards

Gear Up!

It’s estimated that over 20 million children take part in one after-school sport or another. With that amount of children engaging in sports and other activities like skiing, gymnastics, and martial arts, there is a higher chance of injury. Did you know that up to 20% of these injuries are due to fractured or otherwise damaged teeth?

Dr. Grace Bauer can create a sports mouthguard for your child. After an impression of your child’s teeth is taken, they will fabricate a new mouthguard molded to custom-fit to their unique smile.

At Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, we want to help keep your child's smile safe. Discover how a custom mouthguard can protect your child's teeth and help their smile last a lifetime.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Repair That Blends In

Studies have shown that almost 33% of children aged 2 to 5 have had a cavity. Even though baby teeth are only around for a few short years, it’s still important to keep them healthy because they hold the space for your child’s adult teeth. They also help your child chew and develop proper speech patterns .

The procedure is the same for a child as it is for an adult. Depending on the size of the decayed area, a local anesthetic may be given, and if your child has any anxiety over the procedure, we have some sedation options available to make the procedure more comfortable.

After the decay is removed by Dr. Grace Bauer , a special gel is used to clean and etch the surface. Once the filling material is in place, it is light cured, polished, and adjusted to make sure it doesn’t interfere with your child’s bite. Tooth-colored filling material is much like a natural tooth in texture and is matched to your child’s tooth color.

After treatment, it’s important to maintain a regular home care routine of brushing and flossing twice daily, so your child’s restorations stay healthy and prevent any more decay.

Grace Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, takes a conservative and approach to pediatric dentistry. We have a variety of preventive treatments to help avoid future cavities and restorations for your child.

Tooth Extractions

Pulling Teeth Doesn't Have to be a Pain

An extraction can make both children and parents anxious, but they are a common procedure in most dental offices. Sometimes a child’s tooth has too much decay to restore, or they need a tooth or teeth removed to make room for orthodontic treatment.

Regardless of the reason, our team will make sure you and your child are comfortable with the treatment plan.

After applying local anesthetic, Dr. Grace Bauer will remove your child’s tooth. If it is impacted or a complicated removal, Dr. Grace Bauer will discuss with you if sedation options are recommended.

Once the tooth is removed, Dr. Grace Bauer will give you post-op instructions, and place a small piece of gauze over the extraction site to stop any bleeding and to help a clot form. Check and replace the gauze every 20 minutes until bleeding stops.

Here are some recommended tips for the first 24 hours after your child’s extraction:

Use over-the-counter or prescribed pain reliever if recommended by the dentist.
Give your child soft foods for the first 24 hours after their extraction.
DO NOT allow your child to drink from a straw, rinse their mouths out, spit, or brush that area for at least 24 hours after tooth removal. This could dislodge the blood clot and cause a very painful issue called dry socket.
Place an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the area for about 20 minutes to relieve swelling and discomfort.
Immediately call our office if your child experiences fever, immense pain, or chills.

Keenan Family Dental in Saint Petersburg, Florida, always considers your child’s comfort regardless of the type of treatment they are receiving. Dr. Grace Bauer will discuss their unique situation with you to determine the best way to help them receive the treatment they need.